Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live: Indian wrestler’s fate in the balance

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: The deadline for the announcement of the verdict has been extended to August 14 and so, any developments that come before that will only be related to past events. Just to summarise: Vinesh, who stormed into the final of the women’s 50kg freestyle event with three convincing wins, including against wrestling royalty Yui Susaki of Japan last Tuesday, was debarred from the gold medal bout against eventual winner Sarah Hildebrandt of the United States as she was found 100gm above the prescribed limit in the customary morning weigh-in.

Shocked by the dramatic turn of events, the crestfallen grappler last Wednesday appealed against the decision at the CAS and demanded that she be given a joint silver with Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who had lost to Vinesh but was later promoted to the final following the Indian’s disqualification.

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: Rei Higuchi beat India’s Aman Sehrawat on his way to the men’s 57kg gold. He had bounced back from a similar situation to the one Vinesh faced here. In fact, in some ways it was even more brutal. Higuchi was disqualified from the Tokyo Olympics for being 50gm over his weight. He used the word “s**t” to describe the rule of having to make weight twice during the Olympics, something that wasn’t the case before Tokyo 2020. Before that, he had expressed his sympathy for Vinesh. “I understand your pain the best. same 50g. Don’t worry about the voices around you. Life goes on. Rising from setbacks is the most beautiful thing. Take a good rest,” he tweeted in response to Vinesh’s retirement announcement.

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: Before her disaster came the joy. And well, once the dust settles it might become clear that what she did in this bout will always remain immortal. Feast your eyes on this.

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: Six-time world champion and London 2012 gold medallist Jordan Burroughs had proposed a few changes to the rules on social media in the wake of the disaster that befell Vinesh.

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: There have been widespread calls to award Vinesh a silver medal from both within and outside the sport. American six-time world champion and London 2012 gold medallist Jordan Burroughs has repeatedly tweeted out in support of Vinesh’s cause. Among Indian sports figures, Sachin Tendulkar was of the opinion that Vinesh should have been awarded a silver at least. Beijing 2008 gold medal-winning former shooter Abhinav Bindra, double Olympic medallist superstar javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and celebrated hockey player PR Sreejesh also offered their support to Vinesh and reminded the country of her contributions in the sport.

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: Javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra, apart from being arguably the best in the world at what he does, is also a pleasure to listen to. He had an appeal for the rest of the country with regards to Vinesh. “All of us know that if she gets the medal it will be really good. She would have got the medal if such a situation did not arise. If we don’t get the medal, people remember us for some time and say we are their champions but if we don’t get the medal they forget us as well…I just want to request people to not forget what Vinesh has done for the county,” Neeraj Chorpa said in an interview at the India Open House.

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: Before the shock and the disbelief of disqualification came the elation of Vinesh’s incredible run on Day 1 of the women’s 50kg bouts. She started off by doing something deemed almost impossible, becoming the first to beat Japanese defending champion Yui Sasaki in senior international wrestling. Then she beat Ukranian Oksana Livach in the quarterfinals and Yusneylys Guzmán of Cuba in the semifinals by point decisions to qualify for the final. Had the weight mishap not happened, Vinesh would’ve been the first Indian woman to fight in the wrestling finals at an Olympics.

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: In other news, the rest of the bronze medal-winning Indian hockey team is returning tomorrow. This includes PR Sreejesh, who ended his illustrious career in Paris.

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: In celebrating an underdog’s win over a favourite, we often tend to forget about the agony of the latter. Yui Sasaki fell to her first career defeat since making in senior international wrestling in a stunning first round match against Vinesh Phogat. Sasaki went on to win bronze medal through repechage for which she qualified after Vinesh won her semi-final. She has now put out a touching message for all those who supported her after her loss.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had yesterday extended the deadline for delivering its verdict on whether to award a silver medal to Vinesh till Tuesday, August 13. According to a statement from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), CAS has extended the time for the final verdict till Tuesday, August 13, 6:00 PM Paris time and 9:30 PM IST. “The ad hoc division of CAS has extended time for the Sole Arbitrator Hon. Dr Annabelle Bennett in the Vinesh Phogat vs. United World Wrestling & the International Olympic Committee matter to give a decision till 6-00 p.m. on August 13, 2024,” the IOA said in its statement on Saturday.

Priyanka Chaturvedi, currently serving as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra and the Deputy Leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), has publicly condemned the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for its handling of Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification on Monday.

“Wow. So IOA totally washes its hands off any responsibility vis a vis Indian athletes’ interest. Vinesh Phogat has truly been denied justice and thrown under the bus, shame on IOA for releasing this statement while very well knowing Phogat’s case for silver is being deliberated,” Chaturvedi tweeted.

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: The CAS verdict will be given by tomorrow! It could even come out today! If it goes in Vinesh’s favour, we will see India equal their Tokyo 2020 medal tally, which is also their best-ever haul! Fans will also be hoping that whatever the verdict is, Vinesh makes a retirement u-turn and is back in action soon!

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: WFI president Sanjay Singh requested Vinesh to reverse her retirement decision. He felt that it was hasty and asked her to discuss it again with her family and federation. He also hailed her impact on sports in India.

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: A Khap leader from Haryana has asked for an inquiry into ‘conspiracy’ against Vinesh. The statement from Sombir Sangwan, who heads the Sangwan Khap, came after several Khaps held a ‘Sarv Khap Mahapanchayat’ in Haryana’s Charkhi Dadri to seek ‘justice’ for Phogat, and urged her to review her retirement decision.

“The incident should be probed by a serving Supreme Court judge…she should get justice. We also need to know how her weight increased suddenly. Several persons accompanied her and it was their responsibility to ensure that her weight did not increase,” Sangwan told reporters after the event.

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: The CAS hearing was conducted by Dr Annabelle Bennett AC SC (AUS), who is the sole arbitrator.

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: IOC president Thomas Bach revealed that he understood Vinesh’s point of understanding, but also wondered where would one draw the line after allowing small concessions like the one which she has appealed for.

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: Vinesh Phogat’s CAS hearing took place on Friday. The Indian wrestler attended the proceedings virtually. Her arguments were presented by senior counsels Harish Salve and Vidushpat Singhania, a renowned lawyer who has fought for many athletes in the past. Meanwhile, UWW, the second party in this case, had their representatives.

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: Sachin Tendulkar also gave his support to Vinesh. Taking to X, he wrote that Vinesh qualified for the gold medal in fair manner, and her disqualification by weight, should have meant that she gets a silver medal atleast. He further went on to add that she didn’t use any form of doping and didn’t deserve such a decision! He also hoped that the CAS would rule in her favour!

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: Vinesh received support from Japan’s Higuchi, who urged her to reverse her retirement decision. Higuchi recalled how he was disqualified in Tokyo due to being overweight by 50gms. He showed his class in Paris and won the gold medal in his event. Taking to Twitter, he wrote, “I understand your pain the best. Same 50g. Don’t worry about the voices around you. Life goes on. Rising from setbacks is the most beautiful thing. Take a good rest.”

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: India’s medal tally is at six right now, if Vinesh gets the verdict in her favour, then it will become seven. Manu Bhaker won two shooting bronze; one in individual and the other in mixed team with Sarabjot Singh. Meanwhile, Swapnil Kusale also bagged a bronze in shooting. Neeraj Chopra clinched silver in javelin throw and the men’s hockey team defeated Spain for bronze.

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: According to reports, the reason behind Vinesh being 100gm overweight was due to the distance between the Champ de Mars Arena (the competition venue) and the Athletes Village, and the tight schedule between bouts.

She stayed awake all night before the gold medal bout, jogging and skipping to lsoe weight. She even cut her hair and drew out blood, but was still 100gms over the limit!

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: Speaking to the media, Sourav Ganguly said, “I don’t know what the exact rule is, but I am sure when she went to the finals, she must have qualified properly. So when you go to the finals, it’s either silver or gold. She disqualified rightfully or wrongfully, I don’t know. But she deserves the silver atleast.”

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: Sharing his prediction on the CAS verdict, Bindra said, “Well, it’s an incredibly tough situation and frankly, I don’t even know what to say. The rules are very clear, where you draw the line. Sport is always governed. If you don’t govern sport by rules then there is no sport. But of course, I fully empathise with Vinesh. It’s an incredibly difficult period of time for her, everybody’s heart is broken and we are all there for her. I had the opportunity to meet her as well. I really don’t know where this would head. I know the decision is postponed for a couple of days. So I think one just needs to be patient. I am not privy to what the arguments have been made, I haven’t gone through what the case is put forward and I am no legal expert. So patience for a couple of days.”

“Well, we are all conditioned to hope. So I am being hopeful, remaining positive. I am not a legal expert. I don’t know where it is headed,” he added.

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: When postponing their decision, the CAS said in a statement on Saturday, “The ad-hoc division of CAS has extended time for the Sole Arbitrator Hon. Dr Annabelle Bennett in the Vinesh Phogat vs. United World Wrestling & the International Olympic Committee matter to give a decision till 6-00 p.m. on August 13, 2024.”

“The reference to August 11 in the earlier communication sent by me was to the time given to all parties to present any additional documents before the Sole Arbitator,” the statement added.

Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing Verdict Live Updates: The decision on Vinesh’s joint silver medal appeal will be given by tomorrow by 9:30 PM IST! If it goes to her favour, then it will be her first-ever Olympic medal and that too gold, and also India’s seventh in Paris 2024!